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Enjoy the Art from 6 Feet Apart
It’s time for the 2021 Portland Winter Light (non) Festival. For the past 5 years the dark winter months have been pleasantly interrupted by this annual Festival. This event which takes place each February acts to brighten up the otherwise grey winter days with artfully displayed works of light. Despite most public events coming to a halt over the past year (and into the immediate future) the festival organizers have found a safe way to carry on. Instead of the usual densely populated festival, the 2021 edition will take place all over Portland. This expansion of venues will naturally help to space out festival goers. In addition, social distancing and masks are required.
Portland Winter Light Festival
The 2020 light festival marked the last time many of us experienced an event packed with people, having occurred shortly before a year of quarantines and distancing. Over 210,000 people attended the 2020 festival and got to experience light displays by community members, businesses and artists. The 2021 festival promises to display the same creativity while giving us all a much-needed community event filled with light. You’ll find a complete list of exhibits on their website. Of the 57 locations listed nearly half of them are downtown, many in business windows. In addition to the downtown displays you’ll find various businesses as well as private residences lit up all around Portland. Make sure to view the map which is available to help viewers navigate the city wide event.
Brightening up Portland in the Winter
The event is a production of the Willamette Light Brigade. Their goal is to “build community by bringing cutting-edge art and technology to diverse audiences while invigorating the city of Portland in winter.” The idea of brightening up Portland in the winter makes a lot of sense. We rank third for darkest winters in the country behind only Anchorage and Seattle. For those of us living in northern latitudes adding art in the form of light can bring cheer. This organization produces this free event every year and accepts donations to help continue to brighten up our winters.
The Portland Winter Light (non) Festival takes place on the weekends of February 5-6 and 12-13 from 6-10pm. The event is free and family friendly.
